15. Asher

FIFTEEN

Asher

I defied all expectations, apparently. Healing to full strength within thirty minutes of talking to Luke, our chat having called my cells into action.

Go me.

Go cells.

Sadly, Dane and the others still needed more time.

I went to visit Carissa in her new office, the walls covered in clocks. I tapped my foot in time with the ticking, the sound not as annoying as it should be. By the gods, her clocks in her London tower office often wrecked my soul.

“Take this time to rest,” Carissa said. “You don’t have to patrol today.”

“Please, boss. I can’t be idle. I need to do something.”

With Luke training, I needed to be distracted. These hands were restless. As was my mind, currently processing the news of Billy being Seth’s bodyguard. If I dwelled too hard on it, I might go flying into danger again.

Carissa clicked a few buttons on her laptop, throwing me a sympathetic look. “We should talk. Clear the air. This Billy thing…I didn’t do it.”

Ah, man. “Can we not talk about him? No blame here. I know Seth’s all over this. I’ll keep cool. But you’ve gotta let me blow off some steam.”

She returned her eyes to the laptop.

Pissing drawn out silence. Gah!

She looked up again. “I’m glad you don’t hate me.”

Not hate, but she definitely bugged me a lot lately. “We’re cool, boss.”

“Good. Are you sure you don’t want to relax in the tower?”

A vehement shaking of the head followed, my brain hurting from the ferocity. I tugged on my rose quartz, praying for the best outcome.

Don’t make me stay inside…

“Okay, Asher. I’ll allow it. But you’ll join your sister’s team for a recon mission at the town of New Winton.” She tapped some keys.

“Cool. Where’s that?”

Tap, tap. “Approximately two miles from the Brinecrest vent. It got hit hard by monsters years ago, before we showed up. It’s a ruin now. But lately there’s been some human talk of strange occurrences there. Might be nothing more than scary stories, but I want it looked into.”

“Then I’m your guy.”

“Excellent. Go change and meet Eden in the mission room.”

I got up from the chair. “Thanks so much, boss.”

“Be careful.”

I expected more of a fight, my ass dragged off to some comfy spot and forced to relax.

At the end of the day, Carissa knew me and my strengths. I messed up with the jellyfish, but it didn’t get me written off. She trusted me and I liked to serve her trust well, despite the wobble in my respect.

Should I ask her about this training thing with Luke? Get some more info? Nah, best not to push her. I’d see my mark tonight.

I left her office, changed into my red leather, and found my sister in the mission room.

“Cookie!” she cried, darting across the big space with five desks to crush me in her promised sister squishes.

“Queen of hugs,” I said, holding her tightly. “By the gods, I’ve missed you.”

I reveled in her vanilla scent. Man, you never really know how much you miss a loved one until you see them in the flesh again.

Transcendent glee got my soul two-stepping, my world receiving extra splashes of color.

“Same, Cookie. Same.”

After one final crush, we broke the hug, stepping back from each other in perfect sync.

“Carissa tells me you’re joining our mission.”

“Yeah.”

How did her hair stay so slick? She never divulged her secrets.

“Are you sure you’re up for it, Cookie?”

“You only get to ask me that once, sis,” I countered.

She lifted her hands in defense. “Noted, little brother. Okay, let me introduce you to the team.”

Jonah, Chaya, and Rebecca—Knights of Brinecrest—Eden was the only one in the group called over from Gula early. I shook their hands, scanning the mission room. Other gargoyles worked on big computers, making calls, or were dealing with a shit ton of paperwork.

Every tower had a mission room for working on plans and gathering intel, the biggest balcony in the building reserved for a retinue to launch from and kick ass.

Eden took charge of this mission, giving me the run down she’d already laid out for the others. “Chaya and Rebecca are going ahead to scope out the situation at the town. We’ll follow but hold back until we receive the all-clear to move in. The first sign of danger from monsters or environmental factors, we’re gone. No one is putting themselves at risk over hearsay. Got it?”

“Yeah, sis. Boss. What am I supposed to call you?”

She clapped her hands together, beaming a huge grin at me. “Get back in here for another squish.”

This time she pinned my arms to my sides, proper crushing me.

“My Cookie is so cute.” Squeeze, squeeze.

“Can’t breathe…” I struggled.

“Sorry.” She released me, cupping my chin with her soft fingers. “Sis is fine.”

“Cool.”

She kissed my cheek and slipped her game face back on. “Ready, everyone?”

We were more than ready.

At least until the screaming alert in my head upended everything.